Patients Dependent on Opioids Should Not Discontinue their Medication: FDA

America’s war on opioids comes to a halt after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a drug safety communication on April 9, 2019. Herein, the regulatory body said that patients undergoing opioid therapy for chronic pain should not discontinue their medications abruptly.

After the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines released in 2016 as a response to the adverse outcomes from opioids, the FDA has come with this regulatory as it sensed health issues in patients dependent on opioids due to discontinuing the medication abruptly.

Patients who discontinued the medication experienced severe pain and frequent withdrawals. There were greater chances of patients who may search for other sources of opioid medicines and may fall in the trap of illicit opioids like heroin and likewise.

Opioid Medication

Opioids are a class of drugs that are taken in a prescribed amount to control chronic pain experienced after surgeries, sports injuries or a chronic condition like cancer. It functions by lowering the number of pain signals the body sends to the brain.

Data reveals that about 13 million Americans are dependent on a long-term opioid medication.

That’s a big number! Opioids need to be strictly taken under the supervision of a professional doctor. Medications should be taken in a prescribed amount as per the doctor’s advice. If these things are not taken as prescribed, then you might get addicted to the drug.

Despite all the claims levied on this drug, they are safe to use when taken properly.

Move down to know more about the safety of opioid therapy for chronic pain.

According to the Chief of the Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse at Harvard, Dr. Roger Weiss cited that opioids are very powerful both psychological and physical. Thus, it is important to understand when you require this medication and also what proportion is needed.

An opioid is required in overcoming acute pain wherein the specialist will focus on keeping your dose amount as small as possible. If you have undergone a knee or hip surgery, then you might need opioid therapy for chronic pain for more than 3 days while in other cases only 2-3 days of opioid medication is sufficient.

Be cautious while undergoing long-term opioid medications!

When opioids are continued even after you get rid of acute pain, that’s when the side effects of the drugs increase significantly. They are mostly given to control acute pain from arthritis, back pain or cancer.

Professional doctors closely monitor their patients before prescribing medications. An opioid specialist knows exactly how much dosage is required and will make sure his patient doesn’t undergo any adverse consequence as he increases or decreases his dose.

Your doctors know when you don’t need opioids!

If your situation improves, then you no longer need opioids. Your doctor will gradually decrease your dose. The doctor should not go cold turkey as it may result in drowsiness, nausea, abdominal cramps, vomiting, etc.

A professional doctor will set up a full proof plan to reduce the opioid amount by reducing Acetaminophen or Tylenol or by yoga or medication too.

Kroll Care caters to safe opioid pain management treatment owing to their experience in managing opioid prescriptions. We suggest doses as prescribed under the FDA regulations and provide all the care needed by such patients. Count on us!

What is chronic pain?

Pain is a normal reaction of our body to illness or injury. Pain is a warning that there is something wrong in your body. But sometimes pain continues to exist long after its cause even disappears. When any pain lasts for 3 months or more it is called chronic pain. Sometimes the pain is normal. If you have recently had surgery, injury or illness this type of pain-usually disappears by itself. But if the pain is intense, continuous or it makes you unable to do your regular activities then it can be chronic. In that case, you should seek a doctor’s opinion as soon as possible.

Chronic pain may limit the movements of the sufferer and also decrease strength, stamina, and flexibility. Chronic pain management is tough but not impossible. Chronic pain is not just a long term pain but it is accompanied by anxiety, depression and many more problems. Chronic pain can affect the people of all ages and both sexes but it is most common in women. People with mental health disorders and major depression are more likely to get chronic pain.

Causes of chronic pain:

The exact cause of chronic pain are unknown. Chronic pain often starts with a painful condition or injury such as:

• Back pain

• Arthritis or other joint problems

• Nerve damage

• Cancer

• Broken bones

• Fibromyalgia (muscle pain)

• Repetitive stress injuries

• Headaches

• Lyme disease

• Ulcers

• Acid reflux

• Muscle sprains and strains

• Irritable bowel syndrome

• Inflammatory bowel disease

• Endometriosis

• Surgery

Symptoms of chronic pain:

Chronic pain affects emotions, physical health and even social life of the patient over time. Common symptoms include:

• Depression

• Anxiety

• Irritability

• Poor sleep

• Guilt

• Loss of job

• Suicidal thoughts

• Family or Relationship issues

• Alcohol or drug abuse

• Loss of interest in sex

• Tired or wiped out feeling

Common pain management techniques:

• Physical therapy

• Occupational therapy

• Psychological counseling

• Biofeedback

• Nerve blocks

• Spinal cord stimulation

• Braces

• Relaxation techniques

• Pain medications

• Surgery to treat the condition causing pain

Chronic pain medications:

Chronic pain medications can provide you effective pain relief but they do not treat your pain. Long term use of pain medications can make you dependent on them and may also cause possible side effects. It is better to take a bit of advice from your doctor before taking any pain medications. Some patients take more pain medications to manage their pain which can make them dependent on these medications.

Common pain medications which can help you manage your chronic pain are:

Opioids: Strong pain medications. They can provide you relief if you have pain due to broken bone, surgery or cancer.

Over the counter medicines: Naproxen (Alec’s and generic), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, generic), and acetaminophen (Tylenol and generic). These medications build up in the blood and fight inflammation to provide general pain relief.

Antidepressants: These can improve function and relieve pain. These can be used to treat chronic pain due to fibromyalgia, arthritis and nerve damage. Some examples are amitriptyline, duloxetine, sertraline, and fluoxetine.

Anticonvulsants: It may help relieve pain such as low back pain. Some anticonvulsants are topiramate, pregabalin, gabapentin, and phenytoin.

Chronic pain management tips which can effectively help you cope with it:

Meditation or deep breathing techniques to relax your body. It releases tension and tightness from the body and helps ease the pain.

Manage your stress. Stress and anxiety can intensify chronic pain. Learn stress releasing techniques.

Regular exercise strengthens muscles and prevents reinjuries and also make your body release endorphins. These are brain chemicals that block pain signals.

Avoid alcohol and smoking. Alcohol can worsen sleep issues. No alcohol and smoking policy can boost your chronic pain management efforts.

Massage can help relieve tension and reduce stress. Neck and back pain sufferers can take maximum benefits from massage.

Eating a healthy and well-balanced diet aids your digestive process and improves overall health. Proper diet can also maximize your chronic pain management treatment.

Try to distract yourself from pain. Make some efforts not to focus on your pain. Keep doing some activities which you love to do. It keeps you busy and distracts your mind.

Effective and non-invasive treatments for chronic pain:

Physical therapy is an effective technique to relieve chronic pain. It helps improve movement and function. Physical therapy is one of the best options you can choose when you have chronic pain. It can help you function and feel better. Physical therapy involves stretching exercises, strength exercises, pain relief exercises and low impact aerobic training. Your physical therapist may also use heat and ice packs, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, ultrasound and massage. The goal of physical therapy is to decrease pain, improve your function and mobility and make you feel better.

1. Psychological treatment: Chronic pain may also lead to a feeling of despair, sadness, anger, and hopelessness. Pain can alter your personality, affect your sleep and interfere with your relationships and works. As a result lack of sleep, stress, anxiety, and depression can make your pain worse.

Psychological treatment offers a safe and no-drug way to treat your pain directly by reducing the psychological stress which often aggravates pain. Psychological treatment involves psychological counseling and helps patients acquire skills and techniques to manage chronic pain.

2. Acupuncture: It is the oldest healing art. It appears to be a reasonable and effective option for chronic pain patients. Acupuncture decreases the pain by boosting the release of endorphins (that block pain). Acupuncture can be very effective in chronic pain management along with other pain management techniques.

3. Chiropractic treatment: It is the most common pain treatment. It is effective for treating chronic neck and back pain. Chiropractic can help alleviate chronic symptoms and also may correct underlying dysfunction. The goal is to help reduce pain and manage their pain better.

4. Massage: Massage is popular among patients suffering from chronic pain. Massage can relieve tension and stress by increasing blood flow. It can also reduce the substances that may generate and sustain pain.

Conclusion

Chronic pain can be confusing and dealing with it can leave you and your doctor perplexed. Chronic pain can take a toll on your self-esteem and make you feel frustrated, anxious and angry.

Chronic pain may lead to long term lack of physical activity. It can impact your emotional, psychological, neurological, cardiovascular and musculoskeletal processes. It requires a combination of therapies to enable you to live a pain-free and normal life. Alternative therapies like acupuncture, nutritional supplements, chiropractic care, massage, meditation, and biofeedback can help manage chronic pain.

6 Early Signs of Osteoarthritis That You Must Be Aware Off

If you are in your late 60s and experience sharp pain, stiffness, swollen joints that restrict your daily movement, then these are symptoms of osteoarthritis. It also occurs to people in their 20s and 30s and women over 50 are prone to this joint disorder.

Recent studies reveal that in the United States about 54 million adults and 300,000 children suffer from arthritis or rheumatic diseases. Adding to this, arthritis among Americans is expected to increase 49% to 78.4 million by 2040, as published in a study by Arthritis Foundation, U.S.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common chronic condition of the joints including knees, hips, neck, lower back, hands, etc. Commonly known as a ‘degenerative joint disease’, it occurs when the cartilage within a joint starts breaking and the underlying bone starts changing. It hampers your ability to do daily work due to constant chronic pains.

This article will help you to know about the symptoms and how you can live a normal life even after you are caught up with constant joint pain. Even though Osteoarthritis is a long-term disease, you can get rid of its chronic pain through opioid pain medication.

Symptoms of Osteoarthritis

1.Severe joint pain

Osteoarthritis is considered to get worse with time. In severe conditions, the patient won’t be able to sleep or move due to the shooting pain.

2. Swelling

This is caused due to excessive accumulation of fluids in the joints.

3. Stiffness

It is usually experienced in the morning and may get better within 30 minutes, but, the pain can continue throughout the day with daily movements.

4. Crepitus

It is a crackling noise or sensation experienced due to friction between the bone and the cartilage. This occurs as the smooth surface between the joints turn rough due to the frequent movement of the affected part.

5. Bony Protuberances

People suffering from osteoarthritis can experience bony outgrowth (osteophytes) under the skin near the joints. These bone spurs increase with time.

6.Inflexibility

The joints become less flexible which restricts your movement.

OA can worsen with time with bony growths or spurs that are formed under the skin. Cartilage or bits of bone peels off and can be seen floating around in the joint. Due to inflammation, proteins and enzymes are produced that further damages the cartilages. While in the final stages, the cartilage is worn out and the rubbing of bone against each other can lead to severe pain and damage the joints. These patients can seek opioid pain medication to get relief of chronic pain.

Diagnosis of Osteoarthritis

A rheumatologist will identify OA through a series of tests like physical examination, X-rays, lab tests, etc. These are the following ways that can diagnose if you have OA or not:

1. Pain experienced while moving the knee or lifting heavy objects

2. Stiffness experienced in the morning for less than 30 minutes

3. Numbness in the fingers or problem while moving, twisting or holding hands

4. Shooting pain in the thighs, buttocks or knees

5. Weakness or numbness felt in the arms and legs

6. A crackling sound heard while moving

7. Bony outgrowth in the joints

Osteoarthritis normally occurs in the fingers, knees, hips, and spine; there are very fewer possibilities of OA in the elbow, wrist or ankle.

Treatment of Osteoarthritis

There are tons of physical therapies recommended by doctors one of them being opioid pain management. To add more:

• Physical therapy to improve physical movement using canes or crutches.

• Exercises to strengthen muscles, joints.

• The advice of weight loss.

• Regular medications and a balanced diet.

• In extreme cases, immediate surgeries are advised.

Kroll care is a pain management clinic in Atlanta that provides opioid therapy for chronic pain. All the doctors are dedicated and determined to improve their patient’s quality of life through effective methods of curing.

Physical Therapy Can Help Stroke Patients

Your brain is connected to your muscles, correct? In fact, the brain is connected to every part of the body.

Now when you suffer from a stroke, the network between the brain and the muscles breaks. This cut-off causes lack of movement in patients.

You know how there are chiropractors for shoulder pain, right? In the same way, there are physical therapists who deal with patients that have suffered from a stroke.

If the connections are not restored fast, it could cause long-term disability. Although a consistent treatment from an experienced physical therapist could lead to recovery, even after years of suffering from a stroke.

A lot of times, patients suffer from partial paralysis i.e. on one side of the body. It is essential that in the initial stage of recovery, the tension from the patient’s muscles is relieved. The muscles at this stage have forgotten how to work voluntarily.

With the help of a pain management specialist, patients can be taught how to regain control over their muscles. Essentially, coordination, balance and other survival skills need to be taught all over again for a better quality of life.

Patients who have recently suffered from a stroke may face chronic pain without proper care. Once the brain starts to gain oxygen following the episode, the body starts healing itself. But it is a long process through which brain damage and muscles are made to function efficiently.

The physical therapists start working towards restoring movement in the patients approximately 24 hours after the stroke. They use methods that keep the blood flowing in the affected muscles, thus preventing stiffness as well. If in any case, the blood circulation decreases, there could be permanent consequences.

There is a high chance that the shoulders have been affected by the stroke. In such cases, once you get a green flag from your physical therapist, you can get in touch with a chiropractor for shoulder pain. Researchers show that there are various ways of regaining movement in the limbs and joints.

Depending on the condition that your stroke has left you in, various specialized programs are available that ensure a speedy recovery. Appropriate treatment during and after a stroke determines the type of lifestyle a patient will lead. The doctors and therapists work in unison to help improve your health, on the basis of your current condition and age.

Physical therapy and pain management in Atlanta, GA has become increasingly common and many patients reach out to concerned therapists. The faster you sought out for treatment, the better. The recovery process will be long and tiring for the patient and the family. But it is the determination that will ultimately heal the body.

Approaching therapy with a positive attitude can make a big difference.

Kroll Care aims at delivering personalized care to all its patients. With a team of experts, you can ensure accurate diagnostics and treatment is delivered to you. Some of the most advanced treatments are made available which are executed with compassion. Get in touch with the team today to know more about pain management in Atlanta, GA.

Understanding Chronic Pain Management

Pain. We’ve all fallen victim to it. Understanding the how, why and when of that pain along with having the knowledge on how to deal with it in a healthy way is crucial.

So, let’s start with the basics.

There are two types of pains: Chronic and Acute. And the differentiation is fairly simple.

Any pain that is caused right after an injury and persists until the wound heals, will be classified as acute pain.

While any pain that has been around for a longer time and is caused by trauma or is the result of some disease or condition is chronic pain.

Now that you know the basic types of pain, here are a few symptoms to look for:

• Fatigue
• Joint Pain
• Sleep Irregularities
• Mood Swings
• Muscle Ache
• Loss of Physical Activity

There’s a wide range of reasons why one may suffer from such pains. From a low-quality mattress, to excessive weight, to ill-fitted shoes.

Here are a few causes, according to experts:

• Surgical Trauma
• Cancer
• Wear and tear on the cartilage between bones (Osteoarthritis)
• Swollen Joints (Rheumatoid Arthritis)
• Inflammation in the bowels
• Nerve compression or muscle strain around the spine

A bunch of people suffering from back pain visit clinics providing chronic pain management in Atlanta. Suffering from back pain can cause plenty of trouble in your daily life. Work, personal life and the mental health of a person can be adversely affected by it. It is essential that an effective back pain relief plan be provided.

Various treatments, medical and alternative, have been made available today which efficiently help you get rid of your pain.

• The initial approach may include physical therapy which will help in reducing the pain and increasing the mobility of the joint or muscle.
• Thereafter nerve blocks might be used to interrupt the pain signals.
• Medicines such as anti-inflammatories, steroids or muscle relaxers are used to relieve the pain.
• Although the effects are short term, one of the most effective ways of treatment for people with an unbearable amount of pain is by using opioid therapy for chronic pain.
• It is said that acupuncture reduces the pain in the 50% of people who have tried it, while only 30% of people felt a difference with various other medical treatments.
• Hypnosis. Yes, it is known that certain types of pain, like the ones caused by inflammatory bowels, can be treated using hypnosis.

And while all these treatments are available, there are things you can do for yourself to try and get better. Start by talking about it. Sharing your problems will help you in dealing with built-up emotions. Add meditation to your daily schedule. A calm mind may eventually lead to a calmer body.

In the end, whatever you decide to do, get the help your body needs to help you live a better life. Ask a professional for help. There are services available for chronic pain management in Atlanta.

Kroll Care aims at delivering personalized services to help manage and eventually rid patients of the pain.

How To Safely Practice Opioid Pain Management Without Getting Addicted?

Millions of Americans wake up with pain every day.

Some of them are chronic pain patients while some are recovering from surgery, sports injuries or accidents. Millions of prescriptions are written every year which also include some powerful opioids. Opioids have had a history of being an addictive drug.

The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) reported that in 2015, approximately 586,000 Americans aged 12 and above struggled with drug abuse which involved heroin.

• Opioid abuse has become a national crisis in the United States and other parts of the world.

• Opioids tend to make the brain and body believe that the drug is necessary for survival.

• After people learn to tolerate the prescribed amount, they feel that they might need more of it for their well-being.

• It leads to dependency which then turns to addiction. Addiction takes control of human brains and is far more complex than people realize.

Read below to learn how to use opioids more wisely and safely. This is important if you are ready for opioid pain medication to treat any chronic pain.

How can you use opioid therapy for chronic pain?

Opioids can be effective in pain management, but the main part of the treatment starts after the cure – avoiding the side effects and risk of addiction.

Hence using them under a physician’s supervision becomes necessary.

1. If you are on opioid therapy for chronic pain, follow these safety tips:

• Make sure that you talk to your physician or physician anesthesiologist.

• Ensure that you have considered all alternative pain-relieving medications and that they don’t carry an addiction risk.

• If opioids are the best option, then don’t forget to ask your doctor how to minimize the risks and its side effects.

• Provide information on your medical conditions – whether you have consumed opioids in the past, and if so, tell them how you were affected. Also, tell your physician about any history of addiction to drugs or alcohol if you’ve had one.

2. Watch out for side effects

• Side effects of opioids come in many forms. Some of them are mild – these include sleepiness and constipation.

• Other side effects include shallow breathing, slowed heart rate and loss of consciousness. These can be serious and can be a signal of an overdose.

• In case you experience possible symptoms or an overdose, contact your physicians or call 911.

Take prescriptions only as directed

• A physician’s direction must be followed every time and the prescription label must be read too.

• If you are already on some medication, then ask your physician if it will be safe to take opioids with them.

While preparing for surgery

• If you are preparing for surgery and are consuming opioids, then it becomes extremely important to talk to the surgeon.

• Chronic use of opioids increases the risk of complications from surgery, which can result in a longer stay at the hospital.

• A good medical care team can help you safely manage your pain before surgery.

Kroll Care is the best chronic pain management clinic in Atlanta. We create opioid treatment programs through our thorough experience in managing opioid prescriptions. Reach out to Kroll Care without any hesitation to treat your chronic pain through opioid pain medication.